The Sacrifice

Rating:
Summary: SexMagic and Meditative Visualization
Review: Gordon Linton's "The Sacrifice" is the story of a gay English student, Greg Chailey, who learns he is one of a small group of people who have the inherent power to use their imaginations to influence events. In his school in northern Staffordshire as a thirteen-year old in 1993, he showed promise in English composition but was beginning to feel stressed over his closeted sexuality and the whispers and bullying that came along with it. Left to himself, Greg might have followed his father eventually into the carpentry and woodworking business. Circumstances changed.

Kit Stephens, a student two years ahead at Greg's school with developed powers, recognized that Greg had these powers latent. Kit approached Greg carefully and was able to help Greg with the bullying problem. They become friends, with Greg being strongly attracted to the sexually ambiguous Kit. When Greg observes certain revenge fantasies happening in accordance with his own impulses, he fears the bad effects of the powers. Kit, seeming good and helpful, is not fully forthcoming on many topics, preferring mystery and discussions of moral relativity. Greg edges away and tries to forget.

A few years later, Greg runs across Philippe, an apparently independently wealthy seventeen-year old, about the same age as Greg. Philippe has his powers well developed but clearly channels them in the direction of gathering sex and wealth. Greg (by now not a virgin) is very attracted to Philippe and has his first meaningful sex with him. Philippe has a mentor in Wales, named Ian, whose purposes seem politely mysterious. Still, Philippe has his unattractive side, and Greg once again edges away and tries to forget.

Greg, as a part of forgetting, has been channeling his energies into his studies. He gets admitted as an undergraduate in English at Oxford University. There he meets William, who has undeveloped powers which he wants Greg to train. Then Kit shows up. And then Philippe. Even Ian appears. Greg eventually has to decide what sort of life he wants to live and has to fight a battle to win it.

Certain connections come to mind. The small group of people with special powers and a need for training reminds one of the Harry Potter saga. (Although all empowered characters in the novel are gay, it is mentioned that straight people can have the powers too.) Kit Stephens takes Greg on a day trip to Manchester and its Canal Street, made famous by the British version of "Queer as Folk". (Greg and Kit experience shopping, romance, and danger, a useful supplement to QAF.) I was also reminded of a darker book on a related theme, "Something Dangerous" by Patrick Redmond.

The book reads swiftly and easily enough. The big issues get raised. Greg's ability to manage temptation is admirable. In this sort of story, there are always a lot of questions that could be asked, and maybe Greg did ask more of them after getting his happy ending.